Col. Robert I. Kinney, 188th Wing commander, passes the 188th Operations Group guidon to Col. Patric D. Coggin, 188OG commander, during a change of command ceremony August 7, 2019, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Coggin assumed command of the group from Col. Jeremiah S. Gentry, who will be promoted to the position of wing vice commander during the wing’s August 2019 unit training assembly. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John E. Hillier)

Col. Robert I. Kinney, 188th Wing commander, delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony August 7, 2019, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Col. Patric D. Coggin assumed command of the 188th Operations Group from Col. Jeremiah S. Gentry, who will be promoted to the position of wing vice commander during the wing’s August 2019 unit training assembly. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John E. Hillier)

Col. Jeremiah S. Gentry, outgoing 188th Operations Group commander, delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony August 7, 2019, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Col. Patric D. Coggin assumed command of the 188th Operations Group from Gentry, who will be promoted to the position of wing vice commander during the wing’s August 2019 unit training assembly. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John E. Hillier)

Col. Patric D. Coggin, incoming 188th Operations Group commander, delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony August 7, 2019, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Coggin assumed command of the group from Col. Jeremiah Gentry, who will be promoted to the position of wing vice commander during the wing’s August 2019 unit training assembly. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John E. Hillier)

EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. -- Airmen, family members, and friends gathered as the 188th Wing promoted two officers to the rank of colonel and conducted a change of command ceremony for the 188th Operations Group here, August 7, 2019.

Sara A. Stigler, 188th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group commander, and Patric D. Coggin, 188th Operations Support Squadron commander both were promoted to colonel, immediately followed by Coggin’s assumption of command from Col. Jeremiah Gentry, who has led the group since February 2018.

“I count on Patric and Sara when I’m tackling on some of the toughest challenges our wing faces,” said 188th Wing Commander, Col. Robert I. Kinney. “The 188th’s transformation over the past seven years has been rapid. Their contributions to the wing in its current state are immense.”

Stigler offered thanks to the many friends and family in attendance, as well as the Airmen who compose the larger 188th Wing family.

“We are so blessed,” said Stigler. “We are so blessed for all the Airmen we have the privilege to lead, because it’s not about us up here, it’s about you and the work that you do.”

During the change of command ceremony, Kinney lauded Coggin’s innovative solutions to complex problems and experience in building broad coalitions to implement those solutions across the wing.

“Col. Coggin is the obvious choice to be the next Operations group commander,” said Kinney. “I’m confident with Patric at the helm of the 188th Operations Group that we will not only excel in our combat operations, but also be ready for any ‘fight tonight’ scenario which could arise.”

Coggin will provide leadership for the group’s Airmen in their mission of providing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities to combatant commanders worldwide in his new role.

“The vision Col. Gentry set for the group, ‘Be elite. Find solutions. Cultivate trust.’ doesn’t change,” Coggin said. “I love it. Those six powerful words we live by to make our group what we want it to be will not change.”

Kinney praised Gentry’s leadership of the group over the past year and a half, and touted its reputation among the remotely piloted aircraft community.

“The 188th Wing’s combat flying line is recognized as the most requested MQ-9 in theater, and that is due to the acumen, expertise and professionalism of our crews,” said Kinney. “This is a testament to Col. Gentry’s leadership and focus. He has been an incredible, driving force in the operations group, and I know we’ll get the same at the wing level.”

Gentry is slated to become the wing’s vice commander during the wing’s August unit training assembly.